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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe only existing ferry service between the cities of Ume\u00e5 and Vaasa in Finland is jointly owned by the cities of Ume\u00e5 and Vaasa through the 50\/50-owned company Kvarken Link, which in turn owns NLC Ferry and operates under the trade name Wasaline. The agreement signed today means that Stena Line will acquire NLC Ferry and take over the operation of Wasaline. The vessel Aurora Botnia, which sails on the route, will continue to be owned by the cities' company Kvarken Link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201dIt is strategically important to ensure that traffic between Vaasa and Ume\u00e5 continues and has opportunities to grow in the future. We look forward to continuing to work on environmental and efficiency developments together with Stena Line. Wasaline's staff on shore and on board will continue to provide the excellent service we have today. This will be a major boost for the region with significant positive synergies,\u201d says Peter St\u00e5hlberg, CEO of Wasaline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opportunities for intermodality<\/strong> With this step, Stena Line is also strengthening its position as one of the leaders in the ferry industry in terms of sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201dWith Wasaline, we are not only getting a vessel that is well-equipped with the latest environmental technology and can regularly sail CO2<\/sub>-neutrally, we are also strengthening our access to alternative fuels. Furthermore, we gain a strong intermodal transport solution towards Gothenburg and Trelleborg and further down towards the European continent,\u201d adds Niclas M\u00e5rtensson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201dTogether with the city of Vaasa, we have strengthened the connections across the Kvarken Strait and demonstrated that it is profitable. This has happened in a turbulent time when infrastructure, civil defense, and preparedness issues have become more relevant. For us in Ume\u00e5, it is important that we now take steps that strengthen the resilience and opportunities in our part of the world,\u201d says Hans Lindberg, Chairman of the Municipal Executive Board, Ume\u00e5 Municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201dWe are very proud of how brave we were in the City of Vaasa and the Municipality of Ume\u00e5 when we decided that a ferry was needed across the Kvarken, and the project became a reality thanks to CEO Peter St\u00e5hlberg and the entire staff at Wasaline. That the decision was the right one can be seen every year in the growing number of passengers and freight volumes. But now it is time to bring in a larger player with knowledge, expertise and resources, which we in the cities do not have. We are very happy that we have found a common vision with Stena Line,\u201d says Frans Villanen, Chairman of the City Council of Vaasa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next step<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Stena Line f\u00f6rv\u00e4rva bolaget NLC Ferry Ab Oy\/Wasaline och d\u00e4rmed ta \u00f6ver driften av f\u00e4rjelinjen mellan Ume\u00e5 och Vasa i Finland. \u201dDet \u00e4r med stor gl\u00e4dje och entusiasm som vi p\u00e5 Stena Line tar \u00f6ver ansvaret f\u00f6r Wasaline och rutten mellan tv\u00e5 viktiga regioner och st\u00e4der, Ume\u00e5 och Vasa\u201d, s\u00e4ger Niclas M\u00e5rtensson, VD p\u00e5 Stena […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":301740,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[182],"tags":[1113,155,1505,6459,3544],"class_list":["post-301739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rederi","tag-stena-line","tag-turism","tag-umea","tag-vsa","tag-wasaline"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
In July 2025, Wasaline entered into a biogas agreement with Gasum and a Fuel EU Maritime pooling agreement with Stena Line, which meant that the Ume\u00e5 \u2013 Vaasa route became the first international green shipping corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The current acquisition is subject to approval by the respective municipal councils in the two cities of Ume\u00e5 and Vaasa, which is expected to take place during November. The transaction is also conditional on customary closing conditions such as regulatory approvals. Possession is expected to take place at the beginning of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n